Sugar Grove library trustees available to talk about tax increase

Saturday is the last of the "Coffee With the Trustees" at the Sugar Grove Library for those interested in asking trustees about Tuesday's tax-increase referendum.

Trustees will be available from 9 a.m. to noon at the facility, 125 S. Municipal Drive.

The library is seeking to raise its property tax rate limit to 20 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value.

The library currently has a 15-cent limit. But the state's property tax cap law has, in effect, prevented the library from taxing more than about 9 cents per $100 for operating costs. It also collects about 10 cents per $100 to pay off the money it borrowed to build the new library.

If the rate increase is approved, the library would be allowed to immediately raise its tax rate to 20 cents, for taxes to be collected this year. The levy request it filed in December was calculated assuming the rate increase goes through.

Library officials estimate that the rate increase would cost the owner of a $500,000 house an additional $173 in the first year.

Library officials say if the increase is approved, they will add 20 hours a week to the library schedule. It is now open 44 hours a week, far less than neighboring libraries, which are open 67 or 68 hours per week. They have also said they would be able to buy more materials and have more programming.